Nikola Krastev

Also by Nikola Krastev

• November 02, 2004

  U.S.: Election Vox Pop -- American Voters Speak Their Minds

  Americans are heading to the polls today to choose the man who will lead them for the next four years. It's been a passionate, bitterly fought contest, and polls show incumbent Republican George W. Bush and his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry, running neck and neck. In the end, many analysts say voter turnout could be the deciding factor, with a record number of Americans predicted to cast ballots. What are U.S. voters thinking, just hours before the polls open? To find out, RFE/RL sent correspondent Nikola Krastev to the streets of New York to gauge public sentiment in that traditionally Democratic city. Meanwhile, in the small New Hampshire hamlet of Dixville Notch -- famous for casting the country's first ballots -- one candidate has already emerged as the favorite.

• October 29, 2004

  U.S.: First-Time Voters Say They're Enthusiastic About Election

  A recent survey conducted by New York's Pace University concludes that first-time presidential voters are pessimistic about the direction of the country, but enthusiastic about the vote itself. The Pace-Poll survey does not distinguish between U.S. and overseas-born first-time voters, but in the past, new citizens have been among those most likely to cast votes.

• October 28, 2004

  Afghanistan: Experts Voice Concern Over 2005 Afghan Parliamentary Elections

  Tentatively scheduled for April 2005, Afghanistan's parliamentary elections are likely to be much complicated than the recent presidential vote. That's the view of a panel called together by the Asia Society in New York to assess Afghanistan's next steps. Panel experts cited security issues, ethnic tensions and corruption as among the many problems that have to be solved in a brief period of time.

• October 27, 2004

  Central Asia: French Scholar Highlights 'Women Of Authority'

  In a recent book, "The Women of Authority in Contemporary Central Asia," French scholar Habiba Fathi asserts that Muslim women in Central Asia not only actively participate in religious life but often come to occupy positions of authority. Fathi's in-field study affirms women's considerable religious presence in Central Asia, particularly in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Last week, Fathi presented her findings at the New York-based Open Society Institute and spoke with RFE/RL.

• October 08, 2004

  Afghanistan: Special UN Envoy Sees Country In 'Delicate Moment'

  One of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special messengers of peace, Anna Cataldi, says Afghanistan faces formidable difficulties as it tries to ensure a free and fair presidential election tomorrow. Cataldi, who just returned from a trip to the country, told RFE/RL that the vast majority of Afghans are unaccustomed to elections of any sort and barely know the candidates. Security is also a significant concern. Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai is the overwhelming favorite to win, and Cataldi says the other candidates bitterly complain about his special travel and security arrangements. [Click here --> /featuresarticle/2004/10/74d597ef-f5b0-44bd-94f0-9891f9e0c163.html to see a "Factbox" on the presidential election.]

• September 28, 2004

  Albania: Prime Minister Promotes Country As Good Investment In New York

  New York, 28 September 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano has urged U.S. investors to consider Albania for future investments. Nano made the appeal this past week in New York at a conference held in conjunction with the U.S. Commerce Department. The appeal comes as Albania has largely failed to attract large-scale foreign investment -- some seven years after the collapse of the pyramid investment schemes.

• September 09, 2004

  U.S.: Three Years Later, 9/11 Relief Groups Reevaluating Missions, While Study Of Terrorism On The Rise

  (file photo) In the immediate aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001, the main goal of counselors working with people affected by the terrorist attacks was to deal with severe psychological trauma. Later, counseling services and financial assistance took over as their main concerns. Now, some of these post-9/11 relief organizations, having achieved many of their goals, are winding down their operations, while others are positioning themselves to deal with the longer-term effects of the tragedy. The events of 11 September also have spurred interest in the field of terrorism study. In the last three years, more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States have introduced new programs or reevaluated existing studies in disaster management.

• September 08, 2004

  9/11 Anniversary: Firefighter's Widow Says, 'We Always Think We Have Tomorrow' (Part 4)

  The 11 September attacks on the United States -- three years ago this week -- changed much about the way we live. Today, security in many parts of the world is tighter, fear of terrorism is high, and governments are actively trying to hunt down Al-Qaeda-linked or -inspired groups. But if many hope the war on terrorism can prevent new attacks, those who have already lost loved ones in terrorist strikes know nothing can make their lives normal again. Among these people is Nora Farrell. She lost her husband, Terrence -- a 45-year-old firefighter -- when he rushed to the World Trade Center on 11 September to help people escape from the burning buildings. His body was found buried beneath the wreckage of the collapsed towers six weeks later. A devout Catholic, Farrell says her faith has sustained her over the past three years, along with her friends and her two children.

• September 02, 2004

  U.S.: Young U.S. Radio Host Says, Until 9/11, Nation's Youth Had 'Never Understood What Sacrifice Meant'

  New York, 2 September 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Ben Ferguson is a 22-year-old syndicated radio talk-show host in the United States and the author of a book called "It's My America Too: A Leading Young Conservative Shares His Views on Politics and Other Matters of Importance." He is also one of the youngest voices in the Republican Party.

• September 01, 2004

  U.S.: Republican Party Seeks To Engage Young Voters At National Convention

  Barbara (left) and Jenna Bush speaking at the convention last night Young adults are among the voters getting more attention from the Republican Party in this close election year. With surveys showing President George W. Bush trailing Democratic challenger John Kerry among young voters, the party is using this week's convention in New York to make a push to try to attract younger voters and encourage them to go to the polls.

• August 30, 2004

  U.S.: Thousands Protest In New York, Voice Discontent Over U.S. Foreign Policy

  NYC protesters are unhappy with the Bush administration's foreign policy (file photo) Tens of thousands of people marched yesterday in New York to express frustration over the policies of U.S. President George W. Bush. The protest came on the eve of the Republican National Convention, which kicks off in the city today. Organizers claim half-a-million people participated in the march, which stretched for almost 3.5 kilometers through midtown Manhattan. One police official put the crowd size at only 120,000, however, and it took nearly five hours for the procession to pass by Madison Square Garden, site of the convention. Despite the huge number of participants, the event was largely peaceful. RFE/RL correspondent Nikola Krastev attended the rally and files this report.

• August 26, 2004

  U.S.: Russian-American Community Honors New York City Area Servicemen

  Eighteen Russian-American soldiers who fought in the Iraq war participated this week in a ceremony in New York City that recognized their bravery in the campaign.

• August 06, 2004

  Russia: U.S. Investors Sue Yukos, Alleging Manipulation, Deceit

  Ex-Yukos head Khodorkovskii also face separate charges The Russian oil company Yukos has had its share of troubles lately. Now, people in the United States who own shares in the company have gathered together to file a lawsuit. The suit accuses Yukos's management of making false and misleading statements. Yukos shares are listed and traded on U.S. financial markets, and for this reason Yukos falls under U.S. financial laws.

• August 03, 2004

  U.S.: New Yorkers Alert, But Calm, After New Specific Threats

  For two alleged terrorist targets in New York City -- the Citigroup skyscraper and the New York Stock Exchange -- business activities went on as usual yesterday despite a heavy new layer of security. Swarms of police cars, barricades, and heavily armed guards provided a dramatic image for TV crews covering the story. The overall mood, however, could be described as nervous but confident.

• July 31, 2004

  Sudan: UN Security Council Passes Darfur Resolution, Warns Sudan

  Hundreds of refugees are dying daily The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on 30 July warning Sudan of the possibility of sanctions if it does not disarm the pro-government Arab militias accused of indiscriminate murders, rapes, and other attacks against black African civilians in the beleaguered Darfur region. The resolution, drafted by the United States, was co-sponsored by Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Chile, and Romania. It demands that Khartoum disarm and prosecute within 30 days the militias known as the Janjawid or the Security Council will consider punitive measures.

• July 13, 2004

  Azerbaijan: U.S. Adoptive Families Celebrate Heritage Of Their 'Baku Babies'

  As infants and toddlers, these children may have shared rooms or toys at an orphanage in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. But now these "Baku babies" are U.S. citizens with American parents. Families from across the United States with adopted Azerbaijani children recently gathered in New York to celebrate the traditions of Azerbaijan, with food, dancing, and shared memories of their adoption experiences.

• June 29, 2004

  U.S.: Balanchine Festival Concludes In New York With Georgian Traditional Dances

  Traditional dances performed by the Georgian State Dance Company concluded the centenary of the birth of George Balanchine, celebrated over the past year in New York City. The Russian-born Balanchine, who is of Georgian descent, is credited with nearly single handedly creating contemporary American ballet. His company, the New York City Ballet (NYCB), rose to world prominence on the strength of Balanchine's stripped-down, deeply musical works. The City Ballet played host to the Georgian dancers who presented a diverse repertoire of traditional and contemporary dances on three consecutive nights ending on 27 June.

• June 21, 2004

  Archive: The End Of The Aral Sea

  A new report by the UN Economic Commission for Europe says that the Aral Sea, formerly the world's fourth-largest inland body of water, is on the verge of disappearing if urgent measures are not implemented. The sea's woes go back to the 1950-60s planned Soviet economy, when huge amounts of water were diverted for cotton irrigation. But in the last decade its situation has become desperate -- the Aral Sea receives only a tenth of the water it once did and has shrunk to half its original size. The report urges the five Central Asian states to cooperate to save the body of water.

• June 10, 2004

  Iraq: Brahimi Confident Kurds’ Constitution Fears Can Be Resolved (Part 1)

  UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is expressing confidence that Iraqi Kurds will be able to resolve their dispute with the country's majority Shi'as over a clause in the interim constitution protecting their autonomy. A new UN resolution on Iraqi sovereignty has omitted any reference to the interim constitution, leaving many Kurds worried they may soon see their political goals dashed by the new Iraqi government. From the United Nations, RFE/RL correspondent Nikola Krastev reports in this first of a two-part series.

• June 07, 2004

  Kazakhstan: Official Vows Not To Interfere In 'Kazakhgate' Trial

  Qasymzhomart Toqaev (file photo) Kazakh Foreign Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev says Kazakhstan will not interfere in court proceedings in the so-called Kazakhgate case. Speaking to RFE/RL, Toqaev says the Kazakh government considers the proceedings a U.S., not a Kazakh, matter. The statement is significant since the case, involving a U.S. businessmen suspected of bribing Kazakh officials, could implicate Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

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